Meridian 59 User's Guide

Challenge Combat: The Arena

One way to test your skills is to engage in hand-to-hand combat in The Arena. (To get there, ask any grizzled old warrior: most of them know the path so well that they can find their way in the dark without a torch. It's a very popular place, with spectators as well as the best fighters in the land.)

The Arena is a combat-sanctioned zone. All contests are one-on-one, and to the death. If you emerge as the champion, you bear none of the usual karmic consequences: you won't answer to revenants, and you won't be labeled as an outlaw or murderer (though there's always the possibility that the deceased's guild brothers and sisters may want to have a word with you after you leave.) If you get killed, you will lose the weapon and armor you were using at the time, but you get to keep everything else you were carrying.

The Arena is presided over by The Watcher -- a sort of master of ceremonies/sports announcer/referee who makes sure the behavior of both combatants and spectators conforms to the standards below. If you're sitting in the stands, you can talk to the The Watcher. Sometimes, he may even respond in kind.

Challenging The Champion

Usually, when you enter the Arena, there is a reigning Champion taking on all comers. This champion must accept any challenge, or be dethroned.

• To challenge the current champion and step into the Arena, type say Challenge and press Enter.
• If the Champion refuses (by typing say renege and Enter), he or she automatically forfeits the Champion title to the challenger.
• If the Champion agrees, he or she types say accept in the text line, and presses Enter. Combat begins immediately.

Claiming The Title

Occasionally, you may enter an empty Arena, with no established Champion. In this case, the title is up for grabs: simply type say Champion and press Enter to claim the title for yourself!

The Arena has a great deal of spectator seating, and is a popular gathering spot. While you are encouraged to yell, cheer, and otherwise wallow in enthusiastic bloodlust with your fellow fans, house rules prohibit fighting or spellcasting in the stands.